He slows for a millisecond, eyes locking on the goal: the hockey player, King of the Ice. King of the Ice is a portrait of my athletic and talented nephew Adam Vance, who plays and coached hockey. The game is fast-paced and intense. The painting is mostly watercolor, but pearlescent acrylic ink washes add sparkle …
King of the Ice
2012 - 16.75" x 11.25" - Mixed Media (Acrylic Colored Ink, Watercolor), Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
Great Expectations
2000 - 18.625" x 13.5" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
“I want the carrots. I can smell the carrots. Those carrots must be for me. When are they going to give me the carrots? Don’t I look so pretty sitting here waiting for the carrots? GIVE ME THE CARROTS!!!!”
Grasshopper Portrait
2003 - 16" x 12" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
This was one of many grasshoppers frolicking around our front bushes. The markings and tiny hairs all over the creature were interesting to observe. I’d never looked quite so closely at a grasshopper before. Shown at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Argiope with Egg Sack
2003 - 16" x 12" - Mixed Media (Acrylic Colored Ink, Acrylic paint, Gouache, Watercolor), Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
This seven-legged Black-and-yellow Argiope spider lived in some bushes near our house. It was fascinating to watch the spider catch insects, and later grow fat with her eggs. The egg sack she built seemed to glow in the early morning light. This spider is quite stunning, with her furry head and dramatic black and yellow …
Columba livia Fountain Chick
2010 - 16" x 12" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
This is my third painting of birds at a fountain in Southern California. The Los Angeles Audubon Society tells me this is a Rock Pigeon, formerly known as a Rock Dove. The genus and species are Columba livia. In other photos I took that day, The Fountain King is on a higher perch, looking down …
Clyde
2011 - 18" x 24" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
This is the first in a series of paintings that will depict a mystery man in a London Fog coat and Hannah Irish cap. I wanted this image to have a film noir quality to it. Throughout the series, I want the viewer to wonder who this man is, what he’s doing, where he’s going. …
The Fountain King
2010 - 12" x 16" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
There’s a hierarchy at a Coffee Bean Café fountain across from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. This is a portrait of the Fountain King (at least one of them). He sat with regal grace over his watery throne – until he deigned to give someone else a turn. The feather textures, the …
Canyon Lepidoptera
1995 - 21" x 28.5" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
This was my third painting of drop-eye-long-lidded, hooded figures. The patterns for the robe of the figure in front was inspired by the wings of a dead butterfly that I found laying among some autumn leaves. I’ll leave the interpretation of the rest of the painting for you to ponder.
Juxtaposition
1995 - 21" x 28.5" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
Strange faces with dropped and hooded eyes. Eerie, glowing light sources. Large, mysterious egg shape — meaning? A figure robed and hooded in bark, or is that its hair? Male? Female? What relationships do these huddled figures share? Mystery. Questions. Have fun! I was also interested in color relationships, textures, shapes, and continuing to explore …